Books Americans ‘Too Busy’


to Defend Values Voters must be engaged year-round, warns bestselling author and columnist Cal Thomas.


A WATCHMAN IN THE NIGHT By Cal Thomas


Humanix Books, 330 pages $29.99


C BY MARISA HERMAN


al thomas has spent half a century as a reporter and syndicated columnist chroni- cling the political, social,


moral, and religious events that have captivated and shaped the country. With the 40th anniversary of his


popular column looming next year, the conservative Christian writer said he decided it was time to take readers on a journey back to when it all began for him in 1984. Rather than simply rifl ing through


his more than 4,000 columns to pro- duce a “greatest hits” compilation, Thomas set out to create what he calls a “road map” of his observations through the years. In A Watchman in the Night, each


chapter is built around the major news story for that particular year, interwo- ven with Thomas’ distinct brand of per- sonal commentary. Starting with the 1984 reelection of


President Ronald Reagan, the book transports readers through time on a four-decade journey. Along the way, Thomas unfolds


major political and cultural events such as the shocking death of Princess Diana in 1997, the terror attacks of 9/11, the 2004 reelection of President George W. Bush, the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and the fi rst year of Joe Biden’s presi- dency. “It’s a road map or diary of what I


52 NEWSMAX | JULY 2023


have seen along the way,” he said. The book’s title is inspired by chap-


ter 21, verse 6 in the biblical Book of Isaiah, which states: “The Lord said to me: ‘Put a watchman on the city wall. Let him shout what he sees.’” The watchman of Isaiah’s age was


tasked with spotting invading armies or other enemies who might do harm to the people residing inside a city’s gates, and Thomas said he sees himself as a modern-day version of the lookout. “I am holding up a lamp to watch out


for the invading armies of secular pro- gressivism undermining the strength of the nation passed down to us from our parents and grandparents,” he said. In writing the book, Thomas said he


hopes that people who lived through many of the events he highlights are reminded of what they experienced, so they can inform younger Americans of the key events and lessons to heed in order to repeat past successes and avoid making the same mistakes. “I thought it would be interesting to


go back and look at the fl ow of events since the column began in 1984,” he said.


One of the biggest insights Thom-


as gleaned from reviewing the past 40 years is the overall “ignorance” of the American electorate. “How can you elect a Ronald Reagan


and then elect a Bill Clinton or a Barack Obama?” Thomas wonders. “We seem to be politically bipolar in


this country.” He said he fi nds it “amazing” how


many of the same voters can back a president who wants to cut taxes and promote liberty and then just a few years later elect one who wants to do the exact opposite.


THOMAS “If one set of policies work, and Rea-


gan’s did, largely, why would we then vote for politicians who have the oppo- site policies?” he asked. “That’s always been a curiosity to me.” He said he suspects most people sim-


ply don’t pay close enough attention, as they are busy juggling various aspects of their professional and personal lives. But Thomas urges Americans to be


“engaged all the time” — not just when election season rolls around. He made the analogy that, in the


same way a person “can’t get in shape by watching an exercise video,” voters can’t preserve a constitutional repub- lic by “only paying minimal attention around election time.” “A constitutional republic needs to


be constantly renewed,” he said. “You have to be engaged all the time.” Thomas notes that there are three


major contributing factors common among nations that have collapsed: Massive national debt Uncontrolled immigration Loss of a shared set of moral values He fears that the U.S. is experiencing


at least the early stages of each element. When it comes to the nation’s moral-


ity, Thomas points out that people who embrace what used to be termed “tra- ditional values” are now “denounced,” while those who advocate for “other lifestyles” are “promoted.”


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